We are proud to be recognized as a “No Place for Hate School” since 2011. Each year, we host a No Place for Hate Week, and this year, our programming is scheduled for next week. In addition to other activities on campus, we invite guest speakers to speak on topics relevant to empathy, inclusivity, and safety.

Our speakers this year include:

December 4th Tuesday

2nd period Brady Campaign - Two speakers will talk about gun violence prevention and mental health awareness with a nonpartisan approach.

December 6 Thursday

First Period - Nicky Gies, who has spoken here at CCA before, will speak about LGBTQ, and No Place for Hate, combined with Theo Zelkind a senior at CCA and member of our PALs program.

December 6 Thursday

Third Period - Rose Schindler- Auschwitz survivor, will speak to our students about her compelling life story and the Holocaust.

Teachers have signed up their classes to attend these presentations, and some of the topics may be sensitive and cause the students to experience a variety of emotions. It’s typically a powerful and positive experience for our students. Students who would rather not attend the program can simply let their teacher know, and alternative accommodations will be provided.

Tomorrow, Friday November 30th, Principal Killeen is hosting his regularly scheduled Coffee with Killeen at 8:15am in the Cage. In addition, please join our school psychologist, Dorothy Guinter, and School Counselor, April Maniscalco, on Friday, December 7, from 8:00 AM-9:00 AM in the Cage. They will lead an interactive conversation on helping students find a healthy balance during high school.

On Wednesday, November 7th, and Wednesday, November 14th, our district is hosting a Parent Education Forum so that parents can be empowered with tips on how to help and support your children socially and emotionally. Stan Collins is our keynote speaker. He is a Suicide Prevention Specialist at the San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council, and he is highly regarded as an educator, author, facilitator, and speaker on this sensitive but important topic.

It will be the same program for both evenings, so if you can’t make one, you can attend the other one. Here are some details:

November 7th, 2018 will be at Canyon Crest Academy in the Gymnasium

November 14th, 2018 will be at the La Costa Canyon High School Theater

5:45 – 6:00 pm Welcome and District Message

6:00 – 6:45 pm Stan Collins

6:45 – 6:55 pm SDUHSD Resources

7:00 – 8:00 pm Community Resources (Dance Room at CCA)

The target audience for this programming is parents in the community, but it is open to anyone.

We expect this event to be well-attended, and there will be traffic in the neighborhood and in the parking lots, so please plan to get here well before 5:45 pm.

Our school district is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all of our students. This includes our students social, emotional and mental health. Unfortunately, both in the past, and recently, we have had incidents of self-harm that have resulted in injuries and deaths in our community.

We are saddened by these incidents and due to concerns of privacy for families involved we cannot share many details. We do not want to draw comparisons between any incidents of self-harm to students, they are all unique and personal to those involved. We want any student, or any parent, or any community member, who needs help to reach out and get the support they need. When an incident does occur, we support the family involved, the students in our schools and our staff. We have a team of professionals that provide a continuum of social-emotional supports to ensure, as best we can, everyone involved gets the support they need.

We care deeply about the issue of self-harm and suicide. We want to give everyone in our community information and tools to have conversations about self-harm and suicide so that we can help save lives. We are planning on holding two forums in our district focused on suicide awareness and prevention as soon as possible this month. One will be held at Canyon Crest Academy and one at La Costa Canyon High School. As soon as we have made the necessary arrangements we will send out more information.

If you know of a student or anyone who needs support or immediate attention, please take action as every life is precious. We have a page on our website with resources dedicated to preventing suicide.

We are saddened by an incident that occurred today on our campus. Although we cannot share many details, we can share that a student was injured on campus. He is currently in the hospital being treated for his injuries. The rapid response of the school staff and the first responders was commendable. We are in communication with his family and they have asked us not to share their student’s name publicly at this time, but they do support our need to communicate with our CCA community and offer support for those who may need it.

As a school community, we have had to pull together after experiencing loss this past week and earlier this year, so we need to ensure that we are looking out for one another and offering resources where needed. We do not want to draw comparisons between any confidential student incidents; they are all unique and personal to those involved.

We are focused on supporting all of our students and staff with extra resources to ensure that they get the help and support they need over the next few days and in the future. Should your student need support during the school day, additional counselors, social workers, psychologists and administrators are all available.

If students need help, they can ask any staff member or come straight to Student Services-Counseling Office, and we will assist them. If you are concerned about any other student, please contact administration.

If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate crisis outside of school hours, call 911 or contact the Access and Crisis Line at 1-888-724-7240.

I want to follow up to thank you for your care and support at this time. I am impressed by the compassion and community that CCA displays in challenging times. Today, students and staff reached out to support each other, and students who needed additional support were able to talk to access counselors, our social worker and other trained personnel available here at school. CCA will continue to have supports in place for students and staff on Monday.

The news of a loss of a student in a school community impacts everyone differently and students may exhibit a range of responses. Please check in with your students about how they are feeling and if they need any additional support. If you are concerned about your student or any student at CCA, please contact us so that we can assist.

If this event affects your student or anyone that you know in a way that causes you to be concerned for their safety, I want to share some information, including warning signs that a student may be at risk as well as steps that you can take. If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate crisis outside of school hours, call 911 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you have a mental health related emergency contact the Access and Crisis Line at 1-888-724-7240

Canyon Crest Academy is committed to social emotional health, and we encourage you to visit our Parent Resources tab on our website.

This is a reminder that on Wednesday, October 17th there will be two optional college application workshops during the late start hosted by the counseling department. These presentations are for senior students only.

In the Proscenium Theater, counselors will be reviewing Frequently Asked Questions about the Common Application and other private or out-of-state applications:

Session 1: 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM

Session 2: 8:45 AM - 9:20 AM

In the Learning Commons, counselors will be providing a brief presentation on tips and recommendations for the essay/personal statement writing portions of applications. The rest of the session will be used for circulating around to give essay feedback or answer questions.

Session 1: 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM

Session 2: 8:45 AM - 9:20 AM

Please feel free to bring a copy of your application materials, pen/paper for notes, or a personal device. Students are welcome to attend one or both sessions, as needed.

We are proud to share with you that we have moved our parent resource page on the CCA website so that it is now more prominently featured next to the Counseling tab on the main page. We posted a podcast from YouSchool founder Scott Schimmel in case you were unable to attend our parent workshop last week as well as other resources to help you help your child navigate the high school experience. We plan to continue to update this page with more resources as the year progresses.

Please keep in mind the next parent workshop is scheduled for December 11, 2018 from 7 - 8 pm.

CCA will be providing the PSAT/NMSQT for our juniors. Juniors who have signed up for the test must plan to report to campus by 7:45 am. The test will begin promptly at 8: 15am. Any student who arrives after 8:15 will not be admitted.

Juniors who have not signed up but are still interested in taking the PSAT, may see Caroline Moroney in the Student Service building to be placed on a waitlist. Students who are on the waitlist will be notified by Friday October 5th that testing is available.

Once you are notified, payment deadline is Thursday October 11th @ 3:15pm at the CCA Finance Office. The cost is $38.00 (cash, check or Credit Card) All checks are made payable to SDUHSD.

The Progress Grade reporting period ended on Friday, September 28th. Progress Report Grades will be posted in the Aeries portal under the ‘Grades’ tab. These are not permanent grades, but are meant to convey your student’s progress at this time. If you have any questions regarding the grade, please contact the teacher directly. No report cards will be printed or mailed. The last day to drop a class with a ‘W’ is Wednesday, October 10th. The final Quarter will end Wednesday, October 31st and permanent grades will be posted to the transcript the following week.

The first opportunity for ID/Yearbook picture make-ups will be Friday, 9/14, from 8:30am-2:30pm in the gym mezzanine. Refer to the table below for the scheduled release times that will help control student traffic for the photographers. If a student missed Raven Readiness, it is that student's responsibility to communicate with the teacher that corresponds to the period below from which the student will be released to go to the gym and have a school ID picture taken. Teachers will also be provided a roster of students requiring make-up photos to reference in case of a student request. If that time or class period does not work due to curricular demands, the teacher can choose to send students at a more convenient time or our photographers will be available at lunch or during the second make-up day on Monday, 10/1.

Period 1

Grade and Last Name Alpha Breakdown

8:30-8:50

Seniors A-H

8:50-9:10

Seniors I-Q

9:10-9:30

Seniors R-Z

Period 2

9:40-10:00

Juniors A-H

10:05-10:25

Juniors I-Q

10:25-10:45

Juniors R-Z

10:50-11:10

Sophomores A-H

Period 3

12:00-12:20

Sophomores I-Q

12:25-12:45

Sophomores R-Z

12:50-1:10

Freshmen A-H

Period 4

1:35-1:55

Freshmen I-Q

2:00-2:20

Freshmen R-Z

It is most important that students without pictures and IDs are able to participate on Friday, so we are asking that students who want to retake an existing picture for any reason to do so on our 2nd picture make-up day scheduled for Monday, 10/1, or on their own time during the transition times or lunch. To control crowds on that final day, any students wanting pictures retaken will need a note verifying they have parent permission to do so.

We would like to invite you to our 2018 Fall Term Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, September 4th at 5:45 pm. Back-to-School Night is an evening designed for you to get to know what is going on at CCA, to meet your child's new teachers, and to learn about their expectations. This is an excellent opportunity for us all to discuss ways in which we can work together to support your child in making the most of their high school experience. We encourage all of you to come visit us. Please meet us in the quad before reporting to your student’s period 1 class. The schedule for the evening is noted below.

5:45 – Welcome by Mr. Killeen in the quad

6:00 – 6:10 Period 1

6:17 – 6:29 Period 2

6:36 – 6:46 Period 3

6:53 – 7:03 Period 4 (zero period will also meet during this period)

7:10 – 7:20 Conservatory

Optional Presentations

4:00 – Year One PE Family Life in Gym Classroom 204

4:45 – 5:15 Counseling Presentation for 9th grade parents of students last names A-L in Proscenium

5:15 – 5:45 Counseling Presentation for 9th grade parents of students last names M-Z in Proscenium

To avoid waiting in lines, we are asking parents to please print out your child's schedule from the Aeries Parent Portal and bring it with you to campus, or simply have your student complete the schedule information below. If for some reason you are unable to print out your child's schedule at home, we will be happy to print out a copy for you. We will start printing copies on request at 5:15 pm at the finance windows in front of the gym. Maps will be provided upon your arrival.

Period:

Time:

Course:

Teacher:

Room:

1

6:00 – 6:10

2

6:17 – 6:29

3

6:36 – 6:46

4

(or Zero)

6:53 – 7:03

Conservatory

7:10 – 7:20

The CCA Counseling Department will offer a presentation for 9th grade parents prior to Back to School Night. During this presentation, counselors will review graduation and college entrance requirements, discuss CCA Culture, and share general tips for 9th graders. ﻿ Freshman parents with students whose last name begins with A-L interested in attending should gather at 4:45pm in the Proscenium Theater. Freshman parents with students whose last name begins with M-Z, please plan to come to the Proscenium Theater at 5:15pm.

The CCA Physical Education Department will offer a preview Preview of Year One Family Life curriculum in Gym classroom 204, and be available to answer questions related to the Family Life curriculum. In addition, please note that all scheduled PE classes (PE Year One, Weight Training, and Sports Performance) will meet teachers in Dance room 2, on the upper level of the Gym.

This is a fun and informative evening, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely, CCA Administration

August 30th, 2018

Dear 9th Grade Raven Families

9th Grade Counseling Presentations will be offered to students during 2nd period on Tuesday, 9/4 and Wednesday, 9/5/2018. Teachers will send students on one of the two days; any student who cannot attend one presentation day may attend the other. Counselors will review graduation and college entrance requirements, discuss CCA Culture and share general tips for 9th graders.

A presentation for parents of 9th Grade Students will be offered on Tuesday, 9/4 before Back to School Nightin the Proscenium Theater. The Parent Presentations have been split into two sessions as follows:

August 28th, 2018

Dear Ravens,

We are so excited to welcome you to Canyon Crest Academy tomorrow for the 2018-2019 school year! If you are new to CCA, don't hesitate to ask for any help you may need, including where to find a class.

Give yourself enough time to get to school in the morning; if you get here at around 7:30, you will be fine. In the afternoon, our lots will clear at about 3:25, and, as the year goes on, it will clear by about 3:15. If you need to be picked up after school, waiting until after 3:15 may be easier. Our Learning Commons is open until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The campus is open at lunch to juniors and seniors only. Freshmen and sophomores stay on campus, and there are food options at the cafeteria and in the Nest. You are welcome to eat anywhere on campus, but please do the right thing and clean up after yourselves.

Get connected to our campus--it will make your high school experience even better! We have over 250 clubs, athletics, the arts, robotics, and academic teams available for you. If you are not connecting to our campus right away, reach out to a PAL, your counselor, an administrator, or any teacher for ideas.

Parents--feel free to come to the Foundation hosted Welcome Coffee tomorrow morning outside the administration building beginning at 7:30. This is an opportunity for you to get to know other parents, and learn how you can get connected to this special school community, as well!

CCA Class schedules are now available on Aeries. Please keep in mind that we worked on balancing classes this last week and as a result some schedules have changed since Raven Readiness Days. If you are unable to access your schedule in Aeries please stop by the Learning Commons before school for support.

Please open the attachment to view the CCA Connection, our weekly bulletin.

We will see you in the morning!

Brett Killeen, Principal

August 28th, 2018

Hi and welcome back Senior Ravens!

We know that college applications are on your mind and we wanted to let you know about some upcoming events and information. Senior presentations will be Tuesday, 9/18 and Thursday 9/20 during 2nd period in the Theater.

We will review various types of applications as well as the process of requesting letters of recommendation. Please enjoy the first couple of weeks of school and hold off on submitting anything until after the presentations. If you feel like you want to get a jump on college applications, things you can work on are: your brag packet, building your college list, and drafting responses to essays.